Founded on 15th April 1923; revitalised under the leadership of the then Secretary General Com EX Jospeh in 1957, faced innumberable onslaughts by the bureaucracy of Indian Audit & Accounts Department under CAG of India; fought disruptions patronised by CAG many a time; champions the cause of audit and accounts employees, the Central Government employees and workers and toiling masses.

After a sustained struggle, in 2003, the audit and accounts employees under the banner of JAC of Audit & Accounts Employees Organisations could achieve parity in pay with Assistants in Central Secretariat maintaining vertical relativity. The parity was granted notionally with effect from 1.1.1996 and actually from 19.2.2003.

Few members of All India Railway Accounts Staff Association (AIRASA) in Trivandrum (Shri Jose Sebastian and 4 others) challenged the decision of the Railway Board (ie Govt) to grant the higher pay scale from 19.2.12003 and demanded that higher pay (and subsequent arrears of pay) be paid from 1.1.1996, in the CAT, Ernakulam.

CAT, Ernakulam, on 30.6.2006, quashed the order of Railway Board granting notional fixation from 1.1.1996 to 18.2.2003 and directed that the higher pay scale be paid in real terms with effect from 1.1.1996. The Railway board moved HC of Kerala against this directive of the CAT, Ernakulam. Finding no merit in the writ petition moved by the Railway Board, the HC of Kerala rejected the appeal (27.3.2012).

Railway Board planned to move the SC. The petitioners (only three are still in service, other two have since retired), ie AIRASA filed caveat in the SC so that the SLP by the Railway Board is not admitted without hearing the original petitioners.

The case finally came up for admission on 25th February 2013 and the SC rejected the SLP, rather the SLP moved by the Railway Board was not admitted – ie the CAT directive to pay arrears of pay from 1.1.1996 is upheld.

There are two more cases filed by the AIRASA members – one at Patna, Bihar and Guwahati, Assam – which are to yet to be disposed of.

The case has come to finality. It is to be seen how the government would implement the directive of the court.

The JOINT trade union convention, held at Talkatora Indoor Stadium in national capital on 4 September, 2013 by 11 central trade unions - CITU, BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, TUCC, UTUC, AICCTU, AIUTUC, LPF and SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association) and several national federations of central government, state government, bank, insurance, central and state public sector workers and employees; industrial federations and independent local trade unions unanimously adopted declaration calling upon the working class for united action culminating in unprecedented 2 days General Strike on 20-21 February, 2013 against governments' neoliberal policies which are responsible for increasing attacks on their rights, lives and livelihood.

The demands on which the entirety of the Working Class would go on two day strike are:

1) Concrete measures to contain price rise

2) Concrete measures for employment generation

3) Strict enforcement of labour laws

4) Universal social security cover for organized and unorganized workers and creation of National Social Security Fund and

5) Stoppage of disinvestment in Central and State PSUs / Undertakings,

The National Convention demands immediate action by the Govt. of India to ensure:-

• No Contractorisation of work of permanent/perennial nature and payment of wages and benefits to the contract workers at the same rate as available to the regular workers of the industry/establishment.

• Amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs 10,000/- linked with cost price index.

• Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of Bonus, Provident Fund; Increase the quantum of gratuity.

• Assured Pension for all.

• Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions Nos. 87 and 98.

The Secretariat of Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers in its meeting on 4th January 2013 called upon the central government employees to ensure massive success of the two day strike action for which call has been given by the Central Trade Unions and independent Federations.

Confederation reminded the employees of the historic strike of 12-12-12 and called upon to go for higher form of action by joining the two day strike on 20-21 February 2013. The Secretariat of Confederation decided that the demands raised during 12-12-12 strike to be added in the charter of demands in the strike notice that was served on Cabinet Secretary on 22-01-2013. Copy of the Strike notice served by Confederation is placed on the blog.

The National Executive Committee of the Association that met at Chennai on 1st February 2013 called upon the Audit & Accounts Employees and Officers to join the 2-day strike on 20th and 21st February 2013. Accordingly, CHQ of the Association has served strike notice on CAG copy of which is enclosed. Units need not issue separate strike notices, but they may do so as part of mobilisation.

CHQ calls upon every personnel working in IA&AD to join the unprecedented and historic 2-day protest action by the entirety of the toiling masses of the country in a massive manner by striking work on 20th and 21st February 2013.

11 Central Trade Unions have given call for two day strike on 20th & 21st February 2013. The Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers, New Delhi has endorsed the strike and served strike notice accordingly.

All India Audit & Accounts Association, an affiliate of Confederation of Central Govt Employees and Workers, New Delhi, endorses the strike call.

The charter of demands in pursuance of which the members of this Association would go on strike on 20-21st February 2013 is attached.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Yours faithfully,

(M. S. Raja)

Secretary General

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

PART – I

Take concrete measures to contain Price rise.

Take concrete measures for linkage of employment protection with the concession / incentive package offered to the entrepreneurs.

Ensure strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws.

Universal social security cover for the unorganised sector workers without any restriction and creation of a National Social Security Fund with adequate resources in line with the recommendation of NCEUS and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour.

Stoppage of disinvestment in Central and State PSUs.

No Contractorisation of work permanent/perennial nature and payment of wages and benefits to the contract workers at the same rate as available to the regular workers of the industry / establishment.

Amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs.10,000/-.

Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of Bonus, Provident Fund; Increase the quantum of gratuity.

Assured statutory Pension for all.

Ensure Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions Nos.87 and 98.

PART – II

Revise the wages of the Central Government employees including Gramin Dak Sewaks with effect from 1.1.2011 and every five years thereafter by setting up the 7th CPC.

Merge DA with Pay for all purposes with effect from 1.1.2011 including for Gramin Dak Sewaks.

Remove restriction imposed on compassionate appointments and the discrimination on such appointments between the Railway workers and other Central Government Employees.

(a) Revive the functioning of the JCM. Convene the meeting of the Departmental Councils in all Ministries/Departments. Settle the anomalies raised in the National Anomaly Committee as also in the Departmental Anomaly Committees. Hold National Council meetings as specified in the JCM constitution. (b) Remove the anomalies in the MACP Scheme.(c) Grant recognition to all Associations/Federations, which have complied with the formalities and conditions stipulated in the CCS(RSA) Rules.

Fill up all vacant posts and creates posts n functional requirements.

Stop downsizing outsourcing, contractorisation, corporatization and privatization of Government functions.

Make the right to strike a legal and fundamental right of the Government employees on par with the other section of the working class.

A Grant Five promotion to all employees as is provided for in the case of Group-A services.

(a) Withdraw the PFRDA Bill. (b) Rescind the decision to allow FDI in pension sector;(c) Scrap the new contributory pension scheme (d) Extend the existing statutory defined pension scheme to all Central Govt. employees irrespective of their date of entry in Government service.

This is to give notice that the employees who are members of the affiliated organisations of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers will go on two days strike on 20th and 21st February, 2013.The Charter of demands in pursuance of which the employees will embark upon the two day strike action is enclosed.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

K.K.N.Kutty,

Secretary General,

Encl: Charter of demands.

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

PART – I

Take concrete measures to contain Price rise.

Take concrete measures for linkage of employment protection with the concession / incentive package offered to the entrepreneurs.

Ensure strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws.

Universal social security cover for the unorganised sector workers without any restriction and creation of a National Social Security Fund with adequate resources in line with the recommendation of NCEUS and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour.

Stoppage of disinvestment in Central and State PSUs.

No Contractorisation of work permanent/perennial nature and payment of wages and benefits to the contract workers at the same rate as available to the regular workers of the industry / establishment.

Amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs.10,000/-.

Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of Bonus, Provident Fund; Increase the quantum of gratuity.

Assured statutory Pension for all.

Ensure Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions Nos.87 and 98.

PART – II

Revise the wages of the Central Government employees including Gramin Dak Sewaks with effect from 1.1.2011 and every five years thereafter by setting up the 7th CPC.

Merge DA with Pay for all purposes with effect from 1.1.2011 including for Gramin Dak Sewaks.

Remove restriction imposed on compassionate appointments and the discrimination on such appointments between the Railway workers and other Central Government Employees.

(a) Revive the functioning of the JCM. Convene the meeting of the Departmental Councils in all Ministries/Departments. Settle the anomalies raised in the National Anomaly Committee as also in the Departmental Anomaly Committees. Hold National Council meetings as specified in the JCM constitution. (b) Remove the anomalies in the MACP Scheme.(c) Grant recognition to all Associations/Federations, which have complied with the formalities and conditions stipulated in the CCS(RSA) Rules.

Fill up all vacant posts and creates posts n functional requirements.

Stop downsizing outsourcing, contractorisation, corporatization and privatization of Government functions.

Make the right to strike a legal and fundamental right of the Government employees on par with the other section of the working class.

A Grant Five promotion to all employees as is provided for in the case of Group-A services.

(a) Withdraw the PFRDA Bill. (b) Rescind the decision to allow FDI in pension sector;(c) Scrap the new contributory pension scheme (d) Extend the existing statutory defined pension scheme to all Central Govt. employees irrespective of their date of entry in Government service.